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| More than 2,000 Iowa state workers sign up to retire early |
| By qctimes.com |
| Published: 04/16/2010 |
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DES MOINES — Slightly more than 2,000 veteran state employees have signed up to take an early-retirement incentive aimed a reducing the cost of operating state government. Agency breakdowns released today by Gov. Chet Culver’s office indicate that 2,007 state workers have applied to participate in the program and end their state employment no later than June 24. The deadline to apply for the incentive program was Thursday. More than half of the workers are in three state agencies — 620 in the Department of Human Services, 367 in the Department of Transportation and 223 in the Department of Corrections. Another 117 work at Iowa Workforce Development, 84 at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, 71 at the state Department of Revenue, 66 at the Department of Natural Resources and 53 at the Department of Education — including director Judy Jeffrey. “It is going to be a very busy May and June,” said John Baldwin, director of the state Department of Corrections, who will be looking to replace John Ault as warden at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison as well as corrections officers, power plant engineers and food service workers at state prisons. “We’re going to have to get all the people trained that we’re hiring. We’ve got to find them, hire them and get them training. Timing here is really crucial,” Baldwin said. “Because we function as a small city, we have a lot of different parts and pieces that really must come together seamlessly.” Under the incentive plan approved by state lawmakers and signed by Culver, eligible state workers who are 55 years or older with at least 10 years of state government service would have until June 24 to take the incentive that would provide health insurance and monetary benefits for five years. Legislative projections forecast that as many as 2,261 veteran state workers could request the incentive. Proponents asserted that offering senior state workers an early-out benefit would reduce the state’s work force, save up to $60 million over the next fiscal year and elevate younger employees with fresh, innovative perspectives. Critics questioned whether the cost savings and promised downsizing would actually materialize. Culver spokesman Robert Bailey said the state Department of Management now would work with state agencies to determine how many vacated positions should be filled and which jobs are most critical to maintaining key state services. “It’s going to take a lot of back and forth with agencies,” he said. “It important that people know that agencies are going to work close with management to make sure that there is no drop off of service or protection or safety or anything like that.” The target goal is to fill about half of the jobs being vacated by retirees with hires at lower salary levels, Bailey said. However, he said that employees who signed up to participate could still change their minds if they decide they want to stay on and take other positions now becoming open during a period of shakeup, bumping rights and other maneuvering brought on by the retirement option. Read More. |
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